ALAN STUBBS is hoping for an Edinburgh derby classic tomorrow to further boost Scottish football’s reputation south of the border.

The Hibs boss admitted his mates in England have been raving about the standard of our game after tuning in to see his side this season.

Stubbs claimed the action has even put some Premier League games in the shade and expects the nation to watch the mouthwatering Scottish Cup capital clash.

The Easter Road gaffer was back in Merseyside this week on a family visit and took in old club Everton’s 3-0 win over Newcastle at Goodison Park.

And ahead of tomorrow’s last-16 trip to Tynecastle, Stubbs said: “I have had a few people comment on how good our games have been against Rangers, and how they are looking forward to games.

Alan Stubbs has been at the Hibs helm since the summer of 2014 (Image: Craig Foy/SNS Group)

“They have said they enjoyed them more than some Premier League games. Whenever you see a major broadcaster wanting the game, whether it be Sky or BT, that tells you there is a clamour for it nationwide, not just across Scotland.

“They have a bit of everything. Obviously the football is good, there is blood and thunder, there’s some old fashioned challenges flying in, there’s a great atmosphere – and there will be on Sunday at Tynecastle.

“That all reverberates through the TV screens. I know we can’t wait for the game and I am sure Robbie and the fans cannot wait either. The fact it is live on Sky. They see it as the tie of the round. That tells you everything about it.

“We want them to become regular fixtures. Hearts got themselves promoted last season and we want to get promoted this season. We want these games to become regular within the season again.

“I played at Tynecastle a number of times and I know good an atmosphere it can be. As a player that is what it is all about, whether you are playing in front of 60,000 or 80,000.

“Sometimes 17,000, as it will be on Sunday, can generate as much noise as 60,000 in a strange type of way. We are looking forward to it. We are in a good run of form and the players are confident now.”

Hibs - returning to Tynecastle a week on from their League Cup semi-final victory over St Johnstone in Gorgie - won the last derby at the end of last season but Hearts had already been crowned second tier champions.

John McGinn celebrates his winner (Image: SNS Group)

And Stubbs said: “Both teams are stronger than last season. Hearts have got stronger and they are having a really good season. If I wanted to be selfish they would be slight favourites because they have home advantage.

“If we were playing them at Easter Road I would class us as favourites for the same reason. So I am really looking forward to the game. It has the makings of a fantastic tie. Ideally the two clubs probably didn’t want it now but it’s here – and let’s get it on.”

Stubbs reckons the stage is perfect for on loan Anthony Stokes who scored on his last Gorgie visit - a 4-0 Scottish Cup win for Celtic - who said: “Big games, big players.

“Big players bring a buzz with them to the place. He’s certainly brought that, not just to the club but to the dressing room.

"All the players can see the quality that he’s got. Even just his touches in training, you can see that he’s got real quality. We just need to make sure now that he’s ready and raring to go because he is going to have a big say in the run-in.

“The minutes he played during the week will have done him the world of good. We’ll see how he’s feeling and whether we think it’s the right time to throw him in on Sunday.

“I’m pleased the way he has settled. If you look at him in the dressing room, you’d think he’d been here for six months, not three weeks. That’s the type of guy he is. But these are the games I acquired the whole squad, not just Stokesy.”